Hitching attachment for vehicles.



No. 807,047. I PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. J. B. PLATO & W. H. KILGORE.HITOHING ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED A'PR.29. 1905.

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No. 807,047. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905. J. B. PLATO & W. H. KILGORE.

HITGHING ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 .W w a U n dd TTNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNB. PLATO AND WILLIAM H. KILGORE, OF DENVER, COLORADO;

SAID KILGORE ASSIGNOR TO SAID PLATO.

HITCHING ATTACHMENT FOB VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed April 29, 1905. Serial No. 258,028.

To a. whom. it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. PLATO and WILLIAM H. KILeoRn, citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county ofDenver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in H itchingAttachments for Vehicles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices for preventing the running away ofhorses during the temporary absence of the driver, its object being toprovide a simple attachment to vehicles which by a simple manipulationmay be brought in operative connection with one of the wheels of thevehicle for the purpose of causing a strap attached to the bit orcheckrein of the horse to be wound around a drum when the horse by goingforward causes the wheel to revolve.

An additional butnot less important object of our invention is toprovide a device of the class described so constructed that when thehorse after having gone forward backs as a natural result of the pullexerted on his head by the wound-up and tightened strap theaforementioned drum will automatically unwind the strap, therebyinstantaneously releasing the horses head while retaining the Variousparts of the device in proper connection to rewind the strap when theanimal resumes its forward movement.

We attain our objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in the several figures of which like parts are similarlydesignated, and in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of avehicle, one of the hind wheels being removed to show our device asattached to the rear axle of the wagon; Fig. 2, an enlarged elevationshowing the rear wheel and axle to which our improved attachment isapplied; Fig. 3, a fragmentary plan View of one end of the winding-drumwith shaft and adjacent supporting-bracket; Fig. 4:, a fragmentary viewof the rod and spring which connect the lever on our apparatus with theoperating-lever; Fig. 5, a cross-section through the axle anddrum-shaft, showing supporting-bracket and adjacent, lever; Fig. 6, anenlarged section taken along the line 6 6, Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrow; Fig. 7, a side elevation of Fig. 6, the pinionand cam on the drum-shaft having been shown in section; Figs. 8, 9, and10,diagrammatical views of the gear-wheels and cam in theirrelative-positions during various steps in the operation of our device,and 11 a top view of the segmental guide shown in Fig. 1.

Our device consists of a winding-drum 5, rigidly secured to a shaft 6,which is held in its normal position parallel to and underneath the rearaxle 7 of the vehicle 8 by means of two supporting hangers or brackets 9and 10, secured to the axle near its opposite extremities by means ofclips 11.

A spiral spring 12, the function of which will hereinafter be explained,is wound around shaft 6 in between bracket 10 and the adjacent end ofdrum 5, its opposite extremities being secured to a lever 14. and thedrum, as shown in Fig. 3.

Fulcrumed to an extension of bracket 10 at 13 is a lever 14:, adapted tosupport drumshaft 6 and connected at its outer extremity 15 to theoperating-lever 16 by means of a rod 17, one extremity of which ispivotally secured to lever 16, while its opposite extremity is threadedand provided with a turnbuckle 18, the outer extremity 19 of which isconnected to the extremity 15 of lever-14 by a spiral spring20. Theresilient connection thus established besides affording compensation forvarying distance between the spring-supported vehicle-box and the axlesaids in holding the gears of our apparatus in mesh when shaft 6 is inits raised position, which, as will hereinafter be explained, is ofgreat importance in the operation of our device.

The operating-lever 16, located near the seat within reach of thedriver,is fulcrumed at 21 to the side of the wagon and held againstlateral movement by a segmental guide 22. It may be held in any desiredposition in notches 23, as shown in Fig. 11.

We Wish it understood that in place of lever 16 any other suitable meansmay be employed to operate the end of rod 17 and to hold it in anydesired position.

The outer extremity of shaft 6 adjacent to bracket 10 is provided with agearwheel 24, adjacent to which is the elliptical mutilated cam-gear 25,the function and construction of which willhereinafter be explained, andwhich is held in position by a collar 26, secured to shaft .6 by a pin27.

Rigidly secured to the hub of the adjacent Wheel 28 of the vehicle isthelarge gear-wheel 29, the width of which should exceed the combinedwidths of gears 24 and 25 to permit said gears to simultaneously engagethe teeth of the first-mentioned larger wheel 28. Although gear-wheel 29may be secured to the-wheel in any convenient manner, we preferablyemploy the method illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The gear-wheel, asshown, is provided-with a hollow comically-shaped extension 30, having aflange 31. Projections 32 extend inwardly from the extension 30 andengaging the outer periphery of the hub 33 facilitate centering the gearon the wheel. be provided with corresponding graduations 32 to readilydetermine the amount of reduction needed in relation to the size of thehub to which gear 29 is to be fitted. The gear is held in place by meansof a number of U-shaped clips 34 engaging a corresponding number ofspokes on the wheel, their outer threaded extremities projecting throughapertures in flange 31 and held by means of nuts 35.

Cam 25, which is free on the shaft, consists of an elliptical mutilatedgear-wheel, having an elongated opening 25, through which shaft 6passes. The latter has been provided with a shoulder 6, extending thefull width of opening 25, which has a correspondinglyshaped notch 25.Opening 25 is eccentrically located in the major axes of the ellipticalwheel, the distance of its notched edge A to the extreme point B of thewheel, measured along said axes, being equal to the radius of theadjacent pinion 24 minus the radius of shaft 6, while the distancebetween the opposite point C of the slot to the point D of the wheelopposite to the point B should exceed the first-mentioned distance plusthe depth of the teeth. One of the sides of cam-wheel 25 has beenreduced at E, the distance from this point to the adjacent edge of slot25 being less than the above-described distance A to B. The periphery ofcam-wheel 25, with the exception of its mutilated side, is provided'with teeth corresponding in size and form to those of wheels 24 and 29.The teeth of wheels 24 and 29, as well as of cam-wheel 25, are, as shownin the drawings, of ratchet shape, this form of tooth being best suitedto the purpose for which the wheels are intended. ]t should beunderstood, however, that wheels provided with differently-shaped teethor even friction-wheels may be employed with satisfactory results.

To bring pinion 24 in mesh with the gearwheel on the hub, thecorresponding extremity of shaft 6 is raised through instrumentality oflevers 14 and 16 and rod 17, hanger 10 to this end having been providedwith a segmental slot 10, through which shaft 6 travels, while theshaft-opening in bracket 9 has been made sufficiently large to permitthe necessary movement of the opposite end of the shaft in slot 10.Shaft 6 is held against longitudinal movement by collars 36, securedthereto at opposite sides of bracket 9.

Projections 32 may 37 is the hitching-strap by which the drum 5 may beconnected to the bit, reins, or checkrein of the horse. A chain 38,secured to the drum at 39, may be substituted for the end of the strapadjacent to the drum to lessen the wear caused by constant winding andunwinding.

Having thus described the mechanical features of our invention, itsoperation is as follows: The diiferent members of our device beingassembled and attached to the vehicle as shown in the drawings, gear 24is held out of engagement with the gear on wheel 28 by its own gravity,augmented by that of wheels 24 and 29 and lever 14. When arrived at hisdestination, the driver by pulling lever 16 forward causes the teeth of24 to engage those of gear-wheel 29 and after having locked lever 16 inone of the notches 23 can safely leave the vehicle, being assured thatthe least forward movement of the horse will be checked by thetightening of strap 37, which being connected with the animals head willexert a backward pull on same. The constant pull on its head willnaturally cause the animal to reverse his movement and back against thevehicle, and unless his efforts are productive of the desiredresultviz., the slackening of the hitching-strap by reversed rotation ofthe winding-drum-the animal is more than likely to persist in hisrearward movement, which may cause considerable damage to the vehicleand objects against which it may impinge, as Well as bodily injury topassers-by' It is for these reasons of great importance that meansshould be provided to automatically and instantaneously unwind the strapby reversing the movement of the drum the moment the vehicle movesrearward] y. This object we attain in 'our device by means of cam 25,which being mounted loosely on shaft 6 will normally be held in theposition illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 by the gravity of the part betweenG and D, which naturally exceeds that of the portion from A to B. p Theresult is that when the teeth of wheel 24 engage those of gear 29 theteeth in the uppermost portion B of the cam-gear will simultaneouslyengage said teeth, as the distance from A to B equals the correspondingdistance of gear 24. (See position in Fig. 8.) The forward movement ofwheel 28 (in the direction of arrow a) will cause wheels 24 and 25 tomove in the direction of arrow 6, the former of which causes the windingof the hitching-strap, while the latter will be released from contactwith the teeth of gear 29 and be brought to the position shown in Fig.9, in which position it will remain during further forward movement ofwheel 28. The moment the latter commences to turn in opposite directionthe projection or shoulder 6 on the shaft will engage notch 25 inopening 25, causing wheel 25 to rotate in opposite direction, (that ofarrow 0 in Figs. 9and 10,) thus bringing the teeth of said wheel oncemore in mesh with those of gear 29. Further movement in the samedirection will cause gear 29 to further rotate the cam, with the resultthat as the distance between the edges of the slot and the periphery ofthe wheel gradually increases shaft 6, which by action of spring 20 isbeing held in constant contact with the upper edge of slot 6, is

. forced downwardly, thereby drawing the teeth gear 29.

of gear 24 out of engagement with those of Shoulder 6 is at the sametime being released from contact with notch 25, (see Fig. 10,) with theresult that the moment the release of the teeth of wheel 24 and ofshoulder 6 of shaft 6 has been accomplished drum 5 will be free torotate in opposite direction and unwind the strap, being impelled by theaction of spring 12, which, being secured to thedrum and the arm oflever 14, was brought under tension during the forward movement of shaft6.

lt'should be understood that although spring 12 greatly aids inunwinding the strap same may be dispensed with, for when the shaft isfree to turn backwafdly the natural tendency of the animal to move itshead forward will cause the strap to unwind.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A device of theclass described comprising in combination with a vehicle, a gearwheelrigidly secured to one of its wheels, a vertically-movable shaftrevolubly mounted on said vehicle, a drum on said shaft, a gearwheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, means adapted to raise said shaft, meansadapted to resiliently retain the shaft in its raised position, means todisengage the gears through action of the rearward move ment of thevehicle and means to simultaneously cause reverse rotation of the shaft.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, means adapted to raise said shaft, means todisengage the gears through action of the rearward movement of thevehicle and means to simultaneously cause reverse rotation of the shaft.

3. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said.

shaftand adapted to engage the first-mentioned gear when the shaft israised, means adapted to raise said shaft, and a camloosely mounted onsaid shaft and adapted to disengage said gealrs during rearward movementof the ve- 4:. A device of the class described comprising in combinationwith a vehicle, agearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, means adapted to raise said shaft, and a camon said shaft adapted to force said shaft downwardly during the rearwardmovement of the vehicle.

'5. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaftand adapted to engage the first-mentioned gear whenthe shaft is raised, means adapted to raise said shaft, a cam looselymounted on said shaft and adapted to disengage said gears duringrearward movement of the vehicle, and means adapted to rotate said shaftin reverse direction when said gears are disen gaged.

6; A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, means adapted to raise said shaft, a springadapted to be brought under tension by the rotation of the shaft duringthe forward movement of the vehicle, and means to cause thedisengagement of said wheels by action of the rearward movement of thevehicle.

7. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gear wheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, a lever, fulcr'umed to a suitable stationarypart of the attachment, supporting the shaft, a rod, one extremity ofwhich extends from a suitable part of the vehicle and a springconnecting its opposite extremity with said lever.

8. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, a lever, fulcrumed to a suitable stationarypart of the attachment, supporting the shaft, a rod, one

extremity of which extends from a suitable part of the vehicle, itsopposite end being threaded, a turnbuckle on said threaded extremity,and a spring connecting said turnbuckle and said lever.

9. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, a

vertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, a lever, fulcrumed to a suitable stationarypart of the attachment, supporting the shaft, a flexible, adjustable,connection leading from said lever to a point in convenient proximity tothe 00- h cupant of the vehicle, and a spring wound round said shaft,one of its extremities being secured thereto While its oppositeextremity is connected with said lever.

10. A device of the class described comprising in combination with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, a lever, fulcrumed to asuitable stationarypart of the attachment, supporting the shaft, a flexible, adjustable,connection leading from said lever to a point in convenient proximity tothe ocpant of the vehicle, a spring Wound around said shaft, one of itsextremities being secured thereto while its opposite extremity isconnected with said lever, and a cam on said shaft adapted to engage thegear-wheel on the vehicle and to separate said gear wheel and the gearon the shaft during rearward movement of the vehicle.

11, A device of the class described comprising in combination 'with avehicle, a gearwheel rigidly secured to one of its wheels, avertically-movable shaft revolubly mounted on said vehicle, a gear-wheelmounted on said shaft and adapted to engage the first-mentioned gearwhen the shaft is raised, means for raising said shaft, and a springwound round said shaft, one of its extremities being secured theretowhile its opposite extremity is connected with said lever.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

